The Filibuster

So apparently people on the right and on the left all fight about how wrong the filibuster is when THEY are in power. Here's the thing. Currently the filibuster is being abused and it's been increasing over the past 10 years or so. I still believe the filibuster is an important tool for legislative minorities to stop legislation that they deem really, really bad for the country and in this case, I guess that is health care reform for today's Republican party.

The Republicans are entitled to their filibuster but here's the compromise. You should only get 10 filibusters TOTAL; thats including procedural votes. The filibuster should be available but it really should only be used when the Senate is ready to engross its bill. And I have one final rule, a filibuster should actually be a really annoying process; in order for a filibuster to occur, all senators must be locked within the chamber with only water and basic food available to them (and some slightly cushy chairs for the Senators older than 80), no cots, no sleeping, no breaks.

That's what should be the point of a filibuster. This legislation is soooooooo bad I'm willing to do anything to stop it.

For example, last night the Republican minority did something really classless. They promised to vote en masse against the military funding bill. Yes, you heard me right. Not the healthcare bill, but the Military Appropriations Bill. They threatened a filibuster on legislation THEY SUPPORTED! just so they could delay a final vote on the healthcare bill. They brought 91 year old Senator Robert Byrd out at 1AM for the Military Appropriations Bill. Sure, do that for the healthcare vote but not for stuff you support, that's just not intellectually honest.

Democrats voted for the Iraq War and voted for No Child Left Behind because there were things for them in those bills to support. Trust me, there are things in this bill that will help many small businesses and middle class Republican families obtain affordable healthcare. Republican Senators could have made this a better bill if they had participated fully, but they chose not to even play and it's a crappier bill because of that. As I said previously, I would have rather given up some compromises to Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins from Maine than Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson, but even they cannot bring up the courage to vote their conscience.

Congress has done its job. The far right doesn't like the bill. The far left (including me on some measures - I would trade major tort reform for a small public option - anyone?) doesn't like the bill. This is a good thing. The political center has been served, and America is better off for it, I just wish Republicans had played a larger role in the debate.